The Summit County Surface Water Management District (SWMD) has created its “On the Road to Clean Water” graphics for each month of 2026, featuring a different educational topic to help residents better understand and protect local water resources.
This month’s topic focuses on proper motor oil disposal and the important role it plays in protecting our streams, rivers, and lakes. While it may seem like a small issue, oil that leaks from vehicles onto driveways, roads, and parking lots can quickly become an environmental concern when rainfall washes it into storm drains. Because many storm drains flow directly to nearby waterways without treatment, pollutants like motor oil can negatively impact water quality and aquatic life.
Fortunately, preventing this type of pollution is easy. By routinely checking vehicles for leaks and recycling used motor oil at an approved collection site, residents can help keep harmful pollutants out of our local waterways and contribute to a cleaner, healthier community.
Small actions taken at home can have a lasting impact on the health of our local streams and rivers, making water quality protection a responsibility we all share.